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Cardinals chairman DeWitt: ‘Rogue’ behavior will be punished

Sports

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. is blaming “rogue” behavior on the team’s involvement in the alleged hacking of the Houston Astros’ player personnel database. DeWitt said Thursday the team was still investigating the matter but said a handful of individuals in the organization was responsible.

DeWitt and general manager John Mozeliak met with media at Busch Stadium a day after an attorney hired by the team said high-level executives were not involved in the scandal. DeWitt said he had “no knowledge” of the hacking before being informed by FBI investigators early this year.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, June 19th 2015

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad says more than 1,500 workers will likely lose their jobs as a result of the bird flu outbreak and he is asking President Barack Obama to declare a major disaster for four of the hardest hit Iowa counties. In his letter to the president Thursday, Branstad says 438 people have sought unemployment benefits from Buena Vista, Sioux, Webster and Wright counties.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economy has improved slightly in rural parts of Iowa and Nebraska, but a new survey suggests little growth ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss in Omaha says the strong dollar is continuing to hurt crop prices and exports, so farm income is down in the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court will soon release an opinion that could end the use of video conferencing for dispensing abortion-inducing pills to women in rural areas of the state. The high court indicates an opinion will be issued this morning over a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland against the Iowa Board of Medicine.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Dubuque man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend tried to convince officers at the scene to shoot him. The Telegraph Herald reports 26-year-old Eddie Hicks is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Kahdyesha J. Lemon. She was found outside the couple’s Dubuque residence Wednesday night with more than 20 stab wounds and died at a local hospital.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa authorities say they’ve completed an investigation into an officer-involved shooting earlier this month that injured one man. The state Division of Criminal Investigation said Thursday it would send information to the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office for review. Additional information about the case was not released.

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa camp is expanding to serve more children who are economically disadvantaged or have health problems. KCRG-TV reports that work on a new multipurpose building at Camp Tanager is expected to finish in three weeks. The camp’s director, Donald Pirrie, says the facility is planned for year-round use.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A car chase involving police ended abruptly in central Iowa when an uninvolved vehicle collided into the lead car. The Clive Police Department says 43-year-old Sandra Ann Johnson, of Des Moines, was driving a car Thursday afternoon when an officer initiated a stop. Johnson is accused of driving away and eventually running a red light.

DONALD DEAN FICHTER, 88, of Red Oak (Svcs. 6/22/15)

Obituaries

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DONALD DEAN FICHTER, 88, of Red Oak , died Thu., June 18th, at the Good Samaritan Society, in Red Oak. A Memorial visitation for DONALD FICHTER will be held on Monday, June 22nd, from 10-am until 11:30-a.m., at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.

Viewing with the family will take place on Saturday afternoon from 2-until 4-p.m., also at the funeral home in Griswold. Cremation will take place on Sunday.

Inurnment will take place in the Whipple Cemetery. A procession to the cemetery will leave from the funeral home at 11:40-a.m., Monday.

DONALD FICHTER is survived by:

His sons – Ronald Fichter and wife Judy of Clarksville, TN, and Dennis Joe Fichter and Jon Claude Fichter, both of Griswold

7 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

2 injured after motorcycle hits a deer in Mills County Thu. night

News

June 19th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A man and woman from Glenwood were injured when the motorcycle they were riding struck a deer, in Mills County, Thursday night. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 49-year old Ryan Dwayne Field, was traveling south on Highway 59 at around 9:45-p.m., when a deer suddenly came out of the west ditch and onto the road.

Following the collision, the cycle fell onto its side and slid down the road before ending up in the west ditch. Field, and his passenger, 51-year old Cathleen Field, were hurt during the accident, with Cathleen Field being flown by LifeNet helicopter to UNMC in Omaha. Ryan Field was transported to the same hospital, by Red Oak Rescue.

Deputies with the Mills and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Emerson and Red Oak Rescue, assisted at the scene.

Bluffs woman wanted on a federal warrant surrenders Thu. afternoon

News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say a woman wanted on a federal warrant for being a fugitive from justice, was apprehended Thursday afternoon without incident. Officials say 28-year old Melissa Ann Cook, of Council Bluffs, was wanted on a warrant out of Douglas County, NE., for Failure to Appear in court on an original, drug-related offense.Bluffs Badge

At around 12:25-p.m., Bluffs Police were contacted by the U-S Marshal’s Office to assist in the serving of a warrant on Cook, who was located inside a home at 200 East Kanesville Blvd. A perimeter was established by Council Bluffs Police and a portion of westbound traffic at Harrison and Kanesville was shut down as the incident unfolded.

Cook came out of the home at around 4:45-p.m. and was taken into custody. 27-year old Brett Fredericksen, of Council Bluffs, was also inside the residence, and came out. He was subsequently charged with Interference with Official Acts.

Cook and Fredericksen were booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Griswold Co-Op Telephone Co. confirms mgmt. changes

News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Board of Directors of Griswold Cooperative Telephone Co. and it’s President Tom Shellberg, have announced the appointment of Amy Mclaren as General Manager of the company, effective earlier this year. In a Press Release, Shellberg said “Within every organization you will find hard working and dedicated employees. Amy’s success is proof of her skill sets and motivation during the seventeen years she has been employed here.”

According to retiring Executive Vice President Bob Drogo, “there is no area of our business and industry that Amy has not been involved in as preparation for advancement, and we are pleased she has accepted this important opportunity .”

Additionally, the Board of Directors confirmed the rest of the management staff are reporting to McLaren. That team includes Amy Carlisle, Accountant/Office Manager; Brent Milner, Outside Plant Supervisor; and; Karl Lantz, Central Office Equipment Supervisor.

Griswold man arrested on alcohol-related charge

News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report the arrest on Monday, of 19-year old Andrew James Roach, from Griswold. Roach faces charges that include Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and Minor in Possession of Alcohol. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

That same day, deputies arrested 26-year old Amanda Corine Elrod, of Omaha, NE, on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. Elrod was taken to the Cass County Jail where she pled guilty and was released later that day.

Vargas Hits Winning HR with 2 Outs in 9th, Twins Sweep Cards

Sports

June 18th, 2015 by Jim Field

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Slumping Kennys Vargas hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 2-1 victory and a two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Joe Mauer homered for the Twins, too, tying the game in the eighth to answer Jason Heyward’s solo shot for the Cardinals in the seventh.

Vargas grounded into two double plays, ruining a bases-loaded rally on one of those with one out in the seventh inning. He more than made up for that with his game-ending drive into the right-field seats off a slow curveball from Carlos Villanueva (3-2).

Vargas, who is 5 for 27 since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester, was mobbed at home plate by his teammates.

Blaine Boyer (2-2) pitched the ninth for the victory, after eight dominant innings by Mike Pelfrey in an old-fashioned duel with Jaime Garcia.

 

Outdoor Day Camp held in Montgomery County

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Montgomery County 4-H and Extension held “Outdoor Day Camp” for all area youth in grades 4-8 on Tuesday, June 9th at Viking Lake State Park from 9am – 3pm.ISU Extension With 10 excited youth signed up for the busy event, the day began with get to know you games. Youth were then divided into small group. One group focused on fishing; youth learned about their poles, how to bait, cast and even got to try out their fishing luck in the lake.

The second group was kayaking; youth learned about water safety, how to paddle,
and got to play around in the kayaks on the water. The third group focused on leaf identification; youth learned a few common Iowa trees, looked for their leaves, and identified other leaves they found around the park. Participants enjoyed a lunch grilled on site along. The warm afternoon consisted of several more small groups.

The first group learned about the environment and make wildflower seed bombs; the second group went on a nature scavenger hunt; the third group learned about solitary bees and created nests to put out to help the bees in our areas; and the last group was outdoor cooking where youth learned about cooking with a Dutch oven and cooked banana smores! Youth finished the day with some team building activities and some outdoor games.

If there is anything you would like to learn more about, see a presentation on, or attend a workshop for, Hallie Peck, with Montgomery County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says they are always open to ideas and would love to hear your interests!

Peck says a special “thank you” goes to Johnson Controls and their program, Blue Sky Involve, where they helped with funding the program, in addition to the volunteers who helped to make this day camp possible! For any other questions regarding 4-H contact Hallie at the Extension Office (712) 623-2592 or email hpeck@iastate.edu.

MARIE CECELE CAMPBELL, 63, of Harlan (Svcs. 6/22/15)

Obituaries

June 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MARIE CECELE CAMPBELL, 63, of Harlan, died Thu., June 18th, at home. Funeral services for MARIE CAMPBELL will be held 1-p.m. Mon., June 22nd, at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home, in Harlan.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 4-until 8-pm Sun., June 21st, with the family greeting friends from 5-until 8-p.m, and a Prayer Service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery

MARIE CAMPBELL is survived by:

Her mother – Ruth Barker, of Missouri Valley.

Her daughter – Melissa (Butch) Pope, of Harlan.

Her brothers – Robert (Orene) Barker, of Bakersfield, CA; David (Sue) Barker, of Ft. Calhoun, NE; Clifford (Jackie) Barker, of Missouri Valley; & Luke Barker, of Ashland, WI.

Her sisters – Rebecca (Robert) Flint, of Woodbine; Deborah (Lyle) Waterhouse, of Missouri Valley; Susan (Roger) White, of Lee’s Summit, MO; Pollyanna (Marty) Shepard, of Blair, NE; Jennifer Moe, of Santa Rosa, CA; Patricia (Mike) Branstetter, of Magnolia, & Lori (Scott) Martin, of Omaha.

3 grandchildren, her special friend – Michael Gray, of Harlan; and her Mother-in-law, Betty Campbell, of Harlan.